Donald Trump: Canada confirms 25% counter-tariffs on US starting TOMORROW
Canada has confirmed it will slap the US with retaliatory tariffs after Donald Trump has ramped up his global trade war and imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.
Mr Trump’s tariffs are designed to protect US manufacturing and bolster jobs, while a possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia may be imminent. The US President as introduced 25% duties on some Canadian and most Mexican cross-border trade have been at the earliest. The American tariffs are also a threat to UK steel exports – worth more than £400m each year.
Canada announced it would impose counter-tariffs from tomorrow, activating from 12.01am on March 13, reciprocating by focusing on steel and aluminum. Meanwhile, the world is still awaiting Vladimir Putin’s response after the US and Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire to end the war.
After weeks of worsening relations following the White House bust-up, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s teams sat down for nine hours of crunch talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday before reaching an agreement on the proposed terms of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The deal will be presented to Russia by the Americans later this week, and will need to be signed by Putin before it comes into effect. No statement has been issued by the Kremlin so far on the proposed ceasefire.
The White House also announced on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv. It came more than a week after the US imposed the measures in an attempt to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into signing a minerals deal.
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Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken of his “red lines” this afternoon ahead of US negotiations in Moscow on a potential peace deal.
It came just hours after emerging from joint negotiations with US officials, which have started his country and Russia on a potential road to a ceasefire.
Speaking via an interpreter earlier today, he said Ukrainians had fought to keep territories from falling into Russian hands, and outlined the country’s “most important red line”.
He said: “We are fighting for our independence. And therefore we will not recognize any territories occupied by Russia. This is a fact.
“Our people fought for this, our heroes died. How many were wounded? How much has happened?
“Therefore, no one will forget about this. When I say that no one will forget, this is the most important red line. We will not let anyone forget about this crime against Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelensky issues peace deal ‘red lines’ as Putin plots to ‘drag out’ ceasefire talks
Number 10 has not announced any plans to put any retaliatory tariffs in place on US aluminium and steel in response to today’s announcement – and this morning Business Secretary said the UK would be looking at a “pragmatic approach”.
Jonathan Reynolds said: “It’s disappointing the US has today imposed global tariffs on steel and aluminium.
“We are focused on a pragmatic approach and are rapidly negotiating a wider economic agreement with the US to eliminate additional tariffs and to benefit UK businesses and our economy.”
Volodymyr Zelensky has “not heard” about an invitation back to the White House, the Ukrainian President told reporters following his meeting today.
He said: “I have not heard about the invitation. I think that any meeting we have with the president of America should end with a positive outcome for both sides. And I think that’s how we should approach any of our meetings.”
Canadian officials announced at a press conference this afternoon that two ministers and Doug Ford, the firebrand premier of Ontario, will travel to Washington DC to discuss tariffs on Thursday.
Dominic LeBlanc, François-Philippe Champagne and Mr Ford would convey a message about the tariffs “as forcefully as Canadians can do”, Mr Champagne said. Mr LeBlanc said the conversation would primarily centre on “what can we do to deal with this completely unjustified application of tariffs to steel and aluminum from Canada that came into effect today”.
He added: “The conversation tomorrow will be around lowering the temperature and focusing on the process that President Trump set up where Secretary Lutnick has up to April 2 to determine a series of global tariff decisions.”
New details emerging from Canada have revealed what the retaliatory tariffs are likely to target.
As well as steel and aluminum, Canadian authorities also plan to target several billion dollars worth of computers, sporting equipment and cast iron products from the US.
Canadaian authorities have announced they will impose counter tariffs on the US following Mr Trump’s latest round of financial controls earlier today.
The tariffs, also focused on steel and aluminum, activate from 12:01 am on March 13. They will cover a value of $29.8b worth of goods, and are in addition to the reciprocal tariffs already in place from March 4.
The Chancellor of Germany has joined criticism aimed at the new American tariffs, calling them “wrong”.
He added: “We will react to them appropriately and quickly.”
A Democrat senator has slammed Donald Trump’s trade war and accused the president of “driving a wedge” between the US and its allies.
Chris Coons told CNN: “I think we are heading towards a recession because of Trump’s on again, off again, let’s hit all of our allies, let’s tariff everything that comes into the United States approach.
“He is driving a wedge between the United States and our closest allies and trading partners.”
The US is set to resume sharing intelligence with Ukraine, according to its Secretary of State.
Posting on X, Marco Rubio said: “Ukraine demonstrated their government is ready to take steps toward restoring durable peace and expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire.
“As a result, we will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.”
Ukraine demonstrated that their government is ready to take steps toward restoring durable peace and expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire. As a result, we will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security… pic.twitter.com/Eom2zhtkqI
Donald Trump’s trade war came to Europe this morning as the deal-seeking US President activated his 25 percent steel and aluminium tariffs – further destabilising the global economy.
The sizeable new tariffs, seen as a bid by the Commander-in-Chief to reorder trade in his favour, are the latest in a series of border-hopping punitive financial measures designed by Trump to redress so-called “bad deals”.
He believes the US is ultimately losing out on the world’s stage, and is now aiming to renegotiate and renege – but has come under fire from allies he has targeted.
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Keir Starmer has refused to rule out retaliation over Donald Trump’s damaging tariffs after being confronted and told to take a tougher line with him.
The PM was urged to be more “robust” after Trump slapped new tariffs on steel and aluminium. Mr Starmer said all options are “on the table” as he refused to rule out striking back.
Mr Starmer said he was “disappointed” over the US President’s decision to impose tariffs. He told the Commons: “Like everybody else I’m disappointed to see global tariffs… We’ll take a pragmatic approach and we’ll keep all options on the table.”
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Deliveries of weapons from the US to Ukraine have resumed, it has been confirmed.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland announced today deliveries have been made through a Polish logistics centre.
They then go through a NATO and US hub in Rzeszow and on to Ukraine about 45 miles away.
The confirmation comes a day after Trump lifted his suspension of military aid in its war against Russia.
Army chiefs have warned the UK Government “must” consider conscription immediately in preparation for a possible war with Vladimir Putin.
Ex-Nato officers said it’s time to “wake up” and ensure thousands more soldiers are trained up and ready to be assembled amid the impending Russian threat – after Donald Trump suggested the US would pull back its security commitment to Europe.
European leaders are in a frantic race to shore up NATO defenses across the Baltics, fearing an imminent Vladimir Putin attack could be just a few years away.
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The Lib Dems have welcomed Trump’s decision to reverse security aid in Ukraine – but warn he cannot be trusted to not change his mind.
In a post on X, Ed Davey wrote: “The fastest way to bring peace in Ukraine is for Putin to withdraw his troops immediately.
“I’m relieved Trump has now reversed his senseless decision to suspend intelligence sharing and security aid. There’s no doubt it cost Ukrainian lives and emboldened Putin.
“The terrifying thing is Trump’s so unreliable, we can’t count on him not to do it again.”
Now more than ever we must stand with Ukraine and work alongside our European partners to support a just peace, even in the absence of a reliable ally in the US. pic.twitter.com/Hbdav2H5du
At least five people in Ukraine were killed overnight by Russian ballistic missiles, officials have confirmed.
The tragic update comes a day after the US lifted its suspension of military aid for the country as Ukrainian officials signaled they were open to a 30-day ceasefire.
China has warned the US “tariff wars don’t work” amid an admission the relationship between the two powerhouses is challenging.
Speaking yesterday Xie Feng, Ambassador of China to the United States said on X: “The Chinese people are resilient. Maximum pressure, tariff wars or trade wars won’t work.
“It is true China-US relations face challenges and have once again reached a critical crossroads.”
Donald Trump is the “best dealmaker to ever sit” in the White House”, the United States Commerce Secretary has gushed.
Continuing his interview with CBS, he praised the Republican’s business nous. He added: “When you’re negotiating with someone and they’re not paying attention, and they are disagreeing, the president — who’s the best dealmaker ever to sit in that chair — is going to say, ‘here’s my response.’
“And then all of a sudden, shockingly, they respond.”
Trump’s high tariffs are “worth it”, according to the United States Commerce Secretary – even if the move leads to a costly recession.
Howard Lutnik defended the policy, which has sparked concerns and retaliations in several countries affected by the 25% tax.
He told CBS: “It’s worth it. The only reason there could possibly be a recession is because the Biden nonsense that we had to live with.
“These policies produce revenues. They produce growth. They produce factories being built here.”
Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, has accused Donald Trump of creating a “lawless trade world” thanks to his high tariffs.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme he said in retaliation “particularly sensitive” products in the US will be hit by Canada.
Warning there will be “flack on both sides”, he added its response will be added at the items “that will have the biggest political pushback”.
Items from the US which are set to be affected by EU tariffs will not only be steel and aluminium products.
Other favourites enjoyed by people across the continent which will be hit include motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans.
The taxes on imports have been mainly aimed at Republican-held states, including Louisiana, Kansas and Nebraska.
Donald Trump has said he will put the Ukraine ceasefire deal directly to Vladimir Putin.
The US President vowed to challenge the Russian “to tango” in the hope he will agree to terms to help end the war in Ukraine. It finally represents a rare moment of hope for Ukrainians, three years on from Mr Putin’s illegal invasion.
Trump, 78, sat down with Mr Zelensky’s teams for nine hours in Saudi Arabia and, after the crunch talks, reached an agreement on the proposed terms of a ceasefire. Now, it must be presented to Russia – but Trump remains determined he will convince Putin.
Read more here
Greenland’s opposition party, which previously told Trump the country is “not for sale”, has emerged victorious in the country’s elections.
The centre right Demokraatit party secured 29.9 per cent of the vote, it has been confirmed.
The country’s new leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen is an outspoken critic of Trump’s insistence on adding Greenland to the US.
Nielsen, 33, said: “I think this is a historic result in Greenland’s political history.
“We had not expected the election would have this outcome. We are very happy.”
Russia staged blistering strikes across Ukraine last night, hours after Kyiv signalled it was ready for a ceasefire.
A series of massive missile and drone attacks cast doubt on Vladimir Putin ’s readiness for Donald Trump’s demands for peace in the three year war as a Russian double missile strike hit Kryvyi Rih – the city where Volodmyr Zelensky was born – in a fierce overnight strike.
The strike led to a woman, 47, being killed as she travelled in a trolleybus, with smoke seen rising from the site of the strike. In Odesa, Putin’s forces hit and damaged a Barbados-flagged 587ft-long dry cargo ship carrying grain bound for Africa, killing four, with several injured.
Read more here
Treasury minister James Murray described the move to slap tariffs on UK steel and aluminum overnight as “disappointing”.
But he suggested on Sky News there will be no “knee-jerk” reaction from the British government after the EU retaliated to the move.
He said: “We’re champions of free and open trade but our response to this is a pragmatic one – it’s to continue negotiating an economic agreement with the US with the potential to eliminate tariffs because we know that’s in the best interests of UK businesses.
“That’s the cool-headed, pragmatic approach that we’re going to continue where we engage closely and productively with the US.”
It seems like Donald Trump voters are starting to reach the ‘find out’ phase of his ‘f around’ second Presidency.
Back in October, I asked a bunch of Trump supporters why they were voting for him – and everyone had different reasons. But what they all had in common was a belief that he’d make the cost of living come down.
So as the US stocks continue to tumble as a direct result of Trump’s policies, we’re starting to see a little bit of damage control coming from Trump and his team.
Elon Musk, on the other hand, is apparently too deep in the hole to do anything but dig.
For a roundup of what they’ve done and said in the last 24 hours, and why it matters click here.
The UK has been plunged into a “new age of uncertainty” thanks to Trump’s new tariffs.
William Bain, head of trade policy for the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “Against this background, a series of tit-for-tat tariffs could easily spiral into an all-out trade war and would do the UK little benefit.
“We must keep talks alive and retaliatory tariffs should only be used as a means of last resort. If talks succeed, it would be a win-win, bringing welcome stability and pro-growth economic conditions for both sides
“Today’s setback does not mean we have reached the end of the road in terms of negotiations. Tariffs can be lifted at any time.”
The European Union has announced its own tariffs as countermeasures against the US, which are due to come into force on April 1.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission which manages trade and commercial conflicts on behalf of the 27 member countries, said in a statement: “As the U.S. are applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros ($28 billion).
“We will always remain open to negotiation. We firmly believe in a world fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs.”
Experts have said Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs “could not have come at a worse time” as the industry in Britain suffered under high energy costs at home.
Earlier this morning the US President increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%.
Gareth Stace, the director general of trade association UK Steel, said: “These tariffs couldn’t come at a worse time for the UK steel industry, as we battle with high energy costs and subdued demand at home, against an oversupplied and increasingly protectionist global landscape.
“What’s more, the EU is also pushing ahead with trade restrictive action that will amplify the impact of US tariffs.
“Our steel sector is not a threat to the US but a partner to key customers, sharing the same values and objectives in addressing global overcapacity and tackling unfair trade.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that U.S. tariffs on Australian steel and aluminum were unjustified, but his government would not retaliate with its own tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump said last month he was considering a tariff exemption for Australia, a free trade treaty partner that has traded with the United States at a deficit for decades.
A former Australian government secured an exemption with the previous Trump administration in 2018 based on arguments including that Australian steelmaker BlueScope employs thousands of workers in the U.S.
Albanese said he would continue to pursue an Australian exemption. The 2018 exemption took several months to secure.
Donald Trump has officially increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%.
The US President, 78, says the taxes will help create factory jobs across the US but his seesawing tariff threats have jolted the stock market and raised fears of an economic slowdown. The trade wars have even caused the wealth of some of the richest people on the planet – including Elon Musk – to tumble.
And the UK steel industry says the world leader’s tariffs “couldn’t come at a worse time” as it is thought the UK government is unlikely to immediately retaliate to the huge import tax.
Donald Trump increases tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%
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